Vertigo is where a person feels woozy, faint, dizzy, and unsteady. A person with vertigo will feel that everything around them is spinning or moving. Dizzy spells are annoying and are one of the most common reasons why patients visit their doctors. Dizziness can be a sign of several different disorders, but it is rarely life-threatening. The symptoms of vertigo include: lightheadedness, feeling faint, losing balance, heavy headedness and a false sense of motion.

These symptoms can occur at random times or can be triggered by standing up, moving your head, and walking. Some people may feel their dizziness is accompanied by nausea. For some people, the dizziness will last for a few seconds, while other people may experience symptoms for several days. It is common for this problem to occur frequently.

What Causes Vertigo?

There are several different health issues that can cause vertigo. These include:

• Inner ear issues - When a person has issues with their inner ear, this can cause problems with vertigo.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo - This is a condition that causes the feeling of moving when you stand up, turn over in bed, or even sit up.
• Migraines - People who suffer from migraines often experience vertigo. Some people may experience this condition from migraines without the pain of the migraine.
• Blood pressure drops - If a person’s blood pressure drops, especially the systolic blood pressure, this can cause a brief lightheadedness.
• Poor circulation - If a person has had a heart attack, heart arrhythmia, or suffers from poor circulation, they may also have vertigo.
• Neurological conditions - Some neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease can cause loss of balance.
• Medications - Certain medications may cause vertigo.
• Anxiety disorders - Some anxiety disorders will cause a person to have vertigo.
• Low iron levels - People who suffer from low iron will often experience vertigo.
• Dehydration - People who suffer from dehydration will often feel dizzy.
• Low blood sugar - When someone has low blood sugar, they will find that they are dizzy and may have sweating and anxiety.

Preventing and Living With Vertigo

The most important thing when dealing with vertigo is to rule out health issues that may cause it. In many cases, if these health issues are dealt with, vertigo symptoms go away. If the vertigo continues, there are several options for treatment. Treatment options include:

• Medications - A doctor may prescribe various medications for the treatment of vertigo. Anti-anxiety medications may also be prescribed as they can help calm the nervous system.
• Lowering alcohol consumption - Someone who deals with vertigo should not be consuming any alcohol. Vertigo can be caused by dehydration, which alcohol can cause, so it is best avoided.
• Diet changes - Increasing fluids and avoiding salt can help to keep the body hydrated.
• Smoking cessation. If a person experiences vertigo and they smoke, they should quit. It can raise blood pressure and restrict blood flow, which can contribute to vertigo.
• Over the counter pain relievers - If a person suffers from vertigo, it is a good idea to not take pain relievers. They affect water retention and can have a negative effect on the electrolyte balance.
• Exercise - There are several different exercise programs that you can do with vertigo. A doctor can prescribe a visit with a physical therapist in order to help to improve any vertigo symptoms. These exercises will help a person learn how to keep their balance, which will help to minimize the symptoms of vertigo.

Living with vertigo is not easy, but there are things that a person can do to minimize symptoms. If a person has vertigo frequently, they will need to take special care in what kind of work they do and their daily activities. Safety is number one when it comes to having a condition like vertigo.